Stirrup



(No Model.)

vW. F. BIRGE.

STIRRUP.

Patented Sept. 8, 1885.

fiven on UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER F. BIRGE, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

STIRRUP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 325,902 dated September 8, 1885.

Application filed June 23, 1885, (No model.)

20 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WALTER F. BIRGE, of the city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Stirrups, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in the construction of metallic stirrups, and has for its object to provide the stirrup with a detachable hood, of leather or similar material, which can be readily attached to the stirrup and be detached therefrom, thereby imparting-to the stirrup all the desirable qualities found in wooden stirrups which are provided with hoods, without the objectionable features of the wooden stirrups.

My invention consists to that end of the improvements in the construction of the stirrnp and hood, which will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the stirrup with the hood indicated by dottedlines. Fig. 2 is aperspective view of the hood. Fig. 3 is an 'enlargcd view of one corner of the hood. Fig. 4 is a cross-section in line 00 m, Fig. 3, on an enlarged scale.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the frame of the stirrup, having the general form usually employed, and composed of side pieces, a, a foot-piece, a, and top bars, a. I

0 represents buttons or headed studs projecting from the side pieces, a, of the frame A, each side piece-being preferably provided with two buttons-one near its upper and one near its lower end. The frame A is prefer- 'ably constructed of malleable cast-iron, and

the buttons 12 are preferably cast in one piece with theiframe.

0 represents a hood made of leather or similar flexible materal, and provided near its rear edges with buttonholes 0, whereby it can beattaohed to the buttons b of the frame A in a position to extend from one side piece a to the other and protect the front side of the stirrup. The button-holes c are formed in the hood 0 by punching or slitting the leather in the manner usually practiced in forming button-holes, and are re-enforced at their narrow ends by metallic fastenings d, which extend across the slitted portion of each button-hole. These fastenings are constructed of brass or other flexible metal, and clinched on the under or rear side of the hood, thereby preventing the button-holes from tearing out or becoming enlarged.

When the hood is detached from the stirrup, the latter can be used for light riding with a light saddle and accouterments, and the stirrup is as neat in appearance and as serviceable as an ordinary metallic stirrup.

Upon attaching the hood to the stirrup, which can be done quickly and without the use of a tool, the stirrup is adapted for use with a heavy military or stock saddle, and possesses all the desirable qualities of a hooded stirrupsuch as safety and protection against cold, rain, and mudwhile it is much simpler in construction and stronger than the ordinary wooden stirrups, not liable to split, shrink, warp, splinter, or chafe, and iseasily kept clean.

The stirrup frame and hood are provided with all the parts which are necessary for securing the hood to the frame, thereby avoiding the use of separate fastening devices, which are liable to become misplaced or lost.

I claim as my invention- 1. The stirrup-frame A, having its side pieces provided with buttons or headed studs (1, rigidly secured thereto, adapted to receive a suitable hood, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the stirrup-frame A, having its side pieces provided with buttons or headed studs b, rigidly secured thereto, of a hood, 0, provided with button-holes 0, whereby it can be attached to the buttons, substantially as set forth.

WALTER F. BIRGE.

Witnesses:

JNO. J. BONNER, C. F. GEYER.

Witness my hand this 19th day of June, 

